Do you dream of reaching space before turning 21? What turns a dream of space exploration into a real journey? What would you take with you when payload size and weight are limited? How do you prepare for launch and life aboard the International Space Station? The International Space Station has been continuously built and crewed since 2000 through global collaboration, orbiting Earth at an altitude of roughly 400 kilometers in a constant state of freefall, creating microgravity conditions. What does daily life look like in microgravity, when eating, sleeping, or exercising become new kinds of challenges? What can we study in space that cannot be researched on Earth? These questions and more shape the exhibition before you. The exhibition was inspired by the Rakia mission: launched on April 8, 2022, as part of AX-1 - the first fully private crewed flight to the ISS. Among the four astronauts onboard was Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe, who embarked on a historic national mission. Over 17 days, groundbreaking scientific experiments were conducted, artworks were created, and educational activities were delivered to youth across Israel- marking the first time an ISS mission communicated directly with students in Hebrew. Today, Rakia continues its work to expand Israel’s space ecosystem, with a focus on human spaceflight and broad local and international partnerships, driven by the belief that space should be accessible to all. The exhibition includes two experience zones. The first explores the dream of spaceflight and the preparations required for the journey. The staircase leading to the second zone echoes the countdown and moment of launch. The second zone immerses visitors in life aboard the ISS under microgravity, highlighting astronauts in their role as researchers. For us at the Science Museum, this is also an opportunity to return to the questions that fuel science and technology itself: how needs drive invention, how knowledge is built, and how new research tools lead to new answers for familiar questions. To enhance your visit, we invite you to download the Rakia mission app and explore the exhibition through augmented reality.

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